Thursday, November 20, 2008

Many people would love it if the Yankees managed to sign all of the free agent starters out there. Some want Burnett, some want Lowe, others want both. Seems like all want CC Sabathia. Andy Pettite is poised to sign with New York, but that adds at least 2 pitchers to the rotation. Lets take a look.....

1. Wang2. Sabathia?3. Lowe?Burnett?4. Joba5. Pettite?

That looks great, doesn't it?

I think it does.

So I began to look at that rotation, trying to figure out what made me have this empty feeling inside......then it hit me......

Where are the prospects?

Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke, and even Ian Kennedy all seem poised to enter the MLB once again this year as starters. What do they just say no? Make them relievers? Here is my master plan:

1. Offer tons of money to C.C. Sabathia. This signing will make a statement. The Yankees mean business. 2. Look into signing Derek Lowe before AJ Burnett.3. Sign a reliever.4. Hold onto prospects at all costs.5. Make Brett Gardner a starting outfielder.

DON'T

1. Trade for Jake Peavy.2. Offer more than 4 years to any pitcher not named CC Sabathia.3. Offer CC Sabathia more than 6 years.4. Trade Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon.5. Get into a bidding war with a team and end up making too long, or too much of a commitment.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I am talking to you today in hopes that you do not make two of the biggest mistakes possible for this offseason. The two are 1. Signing AJ Burnett and 2. Trading for Jake Peavy. Burnett is injury prone and great friends with Carl Pavano. Peavy would not only take many great prospects, but ALSO alot of money. So please, please sign CC Sabathia and Derek Lowe at all costs.

Many reports have announced (Ken Rosenthal being the 1st) that Mike Mussina will retire as soon as tomorrow. Mussina, being my favorite player, and the most important reason for the yankees coming close to making the playoffs in 2008, will go out on top with a 20-win season. This was expected, but I wished it wasn't so. Mussina is a possible hall of famer.....he will be missed.

A. Did the players team make the playoffs?B. Would the team make the playoffs without this player?C. How valuable was this player to the team?D. Was this player a vocal leader?E. Was this players stats good enough for an MVP?F. How important is this players position to the game

Without Morneau the Twins would most likely come in 3rd-5th place.Without Pedroia the Redsox are a playoff team still.

Other questions:

Why Mike Mussina?

Just listen. Mike Mussina got 20 wins. Chien Ming Wang has not done that yet, Mike Mussina hasn't done that before this year. Sure, the Yankees did not make the playoffs, but without Mussina most likely the Yankees would have come in 4th place. He kept them in it.

As the Yankees prepare their offer to AJ Burnett all we can do is cry. This is another chapter in the Carl Pavano book. Pavano, who is a good friend of Burnett, did not pitch many games with the Yankees as you know, due to various injuries. These injuries varied from his rotator cuff, to his buttocks (BRUISED!) AJ Burnett also has a history of injuries.....and is also coming off the best year of his career. Is it just a coincidence that the one year he doesn't get hurt is his contract year? My response: YES.